GALWAY Racecourse chief executive Michael Moloney is hopeful that this week’s Summer Festival at Ballybrit can bolster the case for increasing attendances for other racecourses and festivals upcoming.

Galway had initially hoped to host crowds of 5,000 spectators on each day of the meeting but were held to 1,000 by the Government, which Moloney says led to well over half of the racecourse going unused.

With a only a small income from gate receipts, this week is likely to have cost Galway financially, but Moloney says the racecourse was keen to take a longer term view.

“I think Galway has been fortunate over the years to get support from the whole industry,” he said. “I think we needed to do the best we could to try and get people back on site and get things moving again.

“Hopefully this week, along with the Curragh’s pilot event, proves that racing can grow its attendance. I see attendances in other sports are increasing and you’d like to think that this week has worked well and you’d love to see events later in the summer and into September, the likes of Listowel and Irish Champions Weekend, getting bigger crowds because that’s where we need to be.”

Those in attendance at Galway this week have reported a buoyant atmosphere, despite the limited crowd size.

“The weather was on our side which is obviously very important for an outdoor event and I think people are just happy to be back racing again,” Moloney said. “A lot of people missed being here last year and we tried to target the people that come here year in year out, the club members.

“There have been little or no issues. We had to make a few tweaks after Monday but nothing major and the racing has been brilliant – some very close finishes and great winners of the feature races.”

This will be the second Summer Festival in a row which will have cost Galway a likely significant amount of money but the track has already started advertising tickets for next year’s meeting.